The Most Regretful Thing

Just like that, the two left the dead, blood-red hall without looking back.

As they stepped back into the mortal mist that was as thick as blood, the surrounding illusions became even more ferocious than before. Countless peerlessly enchanting phantoms twisted and wailed within the fog.

But in front of Ye Xuan, this mortal miasma acted as if it had met its nemesis, scattering to the sides and automatically parting to make a wide path for him.

Walking across the empty, blood-colored wasteland, only the howling astral winds surrounded them.

Ying'er, who had been silent all along, finally mustered her courage at this moment.

She raised her head and looked at Ye Xuan's broad yet incredibly unfamiliar back. Her normally crisp voice now carried a trace of undeniable trembling and awe.

"M... Master." Ying'er bit her bloodless lip and asked cautiously, "W... why didn't you learn this Great Dao of Lust? The senior said it was very powerful. If you learned it, Master wouldn't be bullied by others ever again..."

Ye Xuan stopped in his tracks.

He did not turn around, only tilting his face slightly as his hair fluttered gently in the wind.

Within his profound gaze, an extremely rare flash of vicissitude and reminiscence belonging to the distant past flickered.

"I have walked this path before..."

Ye Xuan's voice was very soft, as if he were muttering to himself, yet it clearly entered Ying'er's ears.

"But it did not end well."

He smiled faintly. His smile lacked its usual wicked charm and arrogance; instead, it carried a coldness and mockery of one who had seen through the mortal world.

"In this world, those who play with feelings are bound to pay a heavy price."

Ye Xuan slowly turned around, looking down at the shivering Ying'er from above.

"When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back into you. When you try to use emotions to manipulate others, your own karma will inevitably be entangled by it. Those fools who think they have mastered the human heart will eventually suffer a backlash that leaves not even their bones behind."

Ye Xuan reached out with his cold fingers, gently pinching Ying'er's chin and forcing her to look up directly into his eyes.

"Even I am no exception."

Meanwhile, deep within the blood-red hall.

Lady Hongfu on the bone throne quietly sensed Ye Xuan's aura gradually fading away.

In the vast space, only her hoarse breathing echoed.

Suddenly, a highly bizarre smile surfaced once more on the old woman's face, which resembled withered tree bark.

She slowly raised her head, her murky eyes piercing through the barriers of the Mortal Valley, looking beyond the Three Thousand Dao States, toward the even vaster and more cruel heavens and myriad realms.

"Another 'One Conquest, Eternal Conquest' has appeared..."

Lady Hongfu murmured softly, her voice filled with a morbid fanaticism and anticipation.

She seemed to already see how, in the near future, the aloof immortal realm's imperious empresses and holy maidens would wail, submit, twist, and go mad at the feet of a young man.

"The tranquility of eternity is finally about to be broken..."

The old woman raised her withered hands trembling, her eyes burning with zeal.

"The killing tribulation... is about to rise again!"

In the Mortal Valley.

Ye Xuan walked in front, his pace neither hurried nor slow. The faint layer of light around him completely crushed all the mortal miasma that attempted to approach.

Ying'er followed closely behind him. She kept her head down, but her lively big eyes were now filled with struggle and confusion.

The words Lady Hongfu had spoken in the hall replayed continuously in her mind like a nightmare.

One Conquest, Eternal Conquest...

As long as there was an instantaneous emotional outburst, it would be forever solidified into a morbid obsession that would never betray him.

Then, what about herself?

Finally, Ying'er stopped in her tracks. She looked at Ye Xuan's tall, straight, and aloof back. Taking a deep breath, she mustered the greatest courage of her life and spoke with a slightly trembling voice: "M... Master."

Ye Xuan stopped, turning his head slightly as his hair slipped over his shoulder. His bottomless dark eyes looked at her quietly. He did not speak, waiting for her to continue.

Ying'er bit her bloodless lower lip hard, her eyes slightly red. Her voice carried a trace of pleading and bewilderment: "This servant boldly asks... are my feelings for you because I truly love you from the bottom of my heart, or... or is it because this 'One Conquest, Eternal Conquest' talent is at work?"

This question was like a poisoned thorn piercing her heart.

If even love could be forcibly manufactured and solidified by some talent, then what did her independent will as a person amount to?

Were all her attachments, adoration, and affections for Ye Xuan merely a false illusion manipulated by someone else?

Hearing this question, not a single ripple arose in the depths of Ye Xuan's eyes. He slowly turned around, looking down at the young girl whose face was full of anxiety about gains and losses.

Then, the corners of his mouth curled into an extremely disdainful sneer.

"Foolish."

Ye Xuan spat out the word, his tone revealing a rationality and coldness that saw through the essence of the world.

He slowly reached out his hand, his cold, slender fingers gently pinching Ying'er's delicate chin, forcing her to look up and meet his eyes.

"One Conquest, Eternal Conquest is my talent. Just like my hands, my feet, and my Sword Dao, it naturally belongs as a part of me."

Ye Xuan's voice was deep, yet it carried an unquestionable dominance: "Is there any problem with you liking me because of a part of me?"

Ying'er was stunned.

Forced to look up at Ye Xuan and hearing these words that struck straight at her soul, her brain could not process it for a moment.

At this moment, a rare touch of gentleness actually emerged in Ye Xuan's eyes.

But within this gentleness, there was an evil nature that controlled everything.

He gently stroked Ying'er's tender cheek with his thumb, continuing with a faint, enigmatic smile:

"Mortal women love scholars for their minds full of knowledge, while female cultivators admire the peerless cultivation of heaven's chosen. Isn't what they love also just certain traits on a man? If one day the scholar fails his exams or the heaven's chosen loses all his cultivation, their love will vanish like smoke."

Ye Xuan's face drew slightly closer, his warm breath hitting Ying'er's face: "And I possess this talent that dominates eternity. I like your big eyes the most, and I like your current obedience. If I favor you simply because I like your eyes, can you say that I don't love you?"

Ying'er stared blankly at Ye Xuan's handsome face right in front of her. Listening to his words, the conflict and confusion in her heart miraculously dissipated.

Yes, the cultivation world was inherently cruel.

Others loved vanity, loved strength, loved appearances. What essential difference was there if she was attracted by her master's talent and became utterly devoted to him?

As long as she could stay by her master's side, be sheltered by him, and be gazed upon by him, did it really matter whether this feeling was naturally generated or solidified by a talent?

Having figured this out, Ying'er's eyes became clear once again.

She felt the coldness of Ye Xuan's fingers, yet an intoxicating blush rose on her cheeks.

"Master, you are so mean. You only know how to use these grand principles to bully your servant..."

Ying'er pouted coquettishly. Her body went soft, and she took the opportunity to throw herself into Ye Xuan's broad embrace.

She pressed her cheek tightly against Ye Xuan's warm chest, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat. She completely let down her guard, and a gentle look full of dependence reappeared on her face.

But...

Ying'er lifted her head from Ye Xuan's embrace, a hint of slyness and excitement flashing in her eyes. Master, with this heaven-defying talent, if you go and seduce those high and mighty fairies, celestial maidens, and Holy Land empresses in the future, they won't have the slightest power to resist! When that time comes, won't all the peerless beauties of the Three Thousand Dao Realms have to obediently kneel at your feet?

At the thought that those usually unattainable fairies, who viewed all living beings as mere ants, would also bow and scrape before her Master just like her, an inexplicable, twisted sense of pleasure arose in Ying'er's heart.

However, in the face of Ying'er's fantasies, Ye Xuan's expression instantly turned cold. He pushed Ying'er out of his arms without the slightest hesitation, a flash of deep disdain and arrogance appearing in his eyes.

I don't have that kind of time.

Ye Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze like a sword, piercing through the overlapping layers of blood-colored mist ahead.

The world bustles for profit. Those women are nothing but pink skeletons, fleeting illusions of beauty. Other than disturbing my Dao heart, what use could they possibly have? What I want is to reach the absolute pinnacle, to trample all those existences who once schemed against me and betrayed me under my feet, and to crush their very souls!

Ye Xuan's voice echoed like a great bell across the silent wasteland. Now, an era of great conflict is approaching. Major orthodoxies are awakening, and monstrous geniuses from throughout the ages are emerging. Competing for the Great Dao is like sailing against the current; you either forge ahead or fall behind! Such a grand chess game cannot be solved by simply seducing a few women and playing with their feelings.

He lowered his head and cast a cold glance at Ying'er. Remember, in the face of absolute power, any schemes and any talents are nothing but mere embellishments. My sword is the only truth that can sever all shackles.

Ying'er was shaken by Ye Xuan's cold determination. Terrified, she quickly lowered her head and respectfully replied, This servant will strictly remember Master's teachings!

Night fell, and the starlight was dim.

The two finally walked completely out of the suffocating blood-colored miasma of the Red Dust Valley.

The night breeze blew past, taking away the last trace of worldly karma clinging to them.

To avoid any possible external spies, Ye Xuan casually set up a concealment barrier on a remote mountain peak to take a short rest.

Outside the barrier, the mountain wind howled, and the forest sea roared; inside the barrier, however, a deathly silence that was oppressive to the extreme filled the air.

Ye Xuan stood with his hands behind his back at the edge of the cliff, looking out at the vast, dark night below.

On that handsome face that was always calm and calculating in the past, there was no trace of the composure of having just left a dangerous place. Instead, a heavy look of frustration rarely seen appeared on it.

His slender fingers unconsciously rubbed his temples, and indescribable pain and conflict surged in his deep eyes.

Ying'er had never seen him look like this since she started following him.

In her impression, her Master was always a high and mighty man who trampled all the schemes and slaughter of the world beneath his feet.

M-Master? Ying'er stood not far behind him, looking at his frowning back. She finally could not help but ask softly, her voice filled with deep concern. What's wrong? Did the trip to the Red Dust Valley make you remember something bad?

Ye Xuan did not turn around. He quietly looked at the darkness in the distance. After a long time, he let out a long, heavy sigh.

In my life, even if I have gone through tens of thousands of reincarnations, been betrayed by my true love, and condemned by thousands, I have never regretted anything in the slightest.

He slowly turned around and looked at Ying'er, his eyes revealing a deep sense of helplessness. But the one thing I regret most in my life is sleeping with Bai Qianqiu.

Hearing this name, Ying'er was completely stunned.

Master... don't you like Sister Bai? Ying'er's large eyes were filled with confusion.

Like? Ye Xuan gave a bitter smile, a smile that looked worse than crying. I suppose you could barely call it that. Her sword heart is pure, unlike those women who are full of schemes.

Ye Xuan violently grabbed a handful of his hair, a trace of almost overwhelming, painful memories showing in his eyes.

When we were in the ruins, I had a few too many cups of wine, and my mind was a bit impulsive. Plus, she had let down all her defenses around me at that time... That's why I slept with her.

Ye Xuan took a deep breath, his voice even trembling slightly.

He stared fixedly at his own hands. Although I had vaguely felt that the karma on my body was not quite right before then, as if there was a terrifying magic affecting the women around me, I never expected that what I was burdened with was actually the Eternal Conquest!

Ten days! It only took ten days!

Ye Xuan suddenly raised his head, his eyes revealing a chilling fear and sense of absurdity.

I watched helplessly as Bai Qianqiu, the heir of the Sword God Palace, a peerless sword immortal who used to be so aloof that she wouldn't even smile, looked at me with a burning passion in her eyes that could practically burn me to ashes. Later on, the way she looked at me was no longer like looking at a Dao companion, but like looking at her god! She is probably ready to die for me at any moment!

Ye Xuan, in extreme frustration, shattered a huge rock beside him with a single palm strike. With a boom, crushed stones flew everywhere.

That is also why I had her master, Ye Jiuhuang, forcefully lock her up in seclusion!

Ye Xuan sighed through gritted teeth, his tone full of the wretchedness of evasion. I simply don't know how to face her! I simply cannot, and it is impossible for me to reciprocate her extreme feelings!

Ying'er was dumbfounded as she listened.

In her understanding, a high and mighty fairy being dead set on a man was a wonderful thing that all the men in the world wouldn't even dare to dream of.

She could not help but boldly ask, Isn't such a talent a good thing? Master, didn't that old witch say that this is the most terrifying succubus talent in the myriad heavens and realms? You only need to put in a little effort and give them a tiny bit of emotional touching... Won't countless high and mighty fairies across the heavens and realms all be in the palm of your hand?

Foolish beyond belief!

Ye Xuan cast a cold glance at her, his tone filled with deep helplessness and horror.

Do you think this is as simple as being a wealthy man in the mortal world and taking a few concubines? The women in the cultivation world, especially those empresses and fairies standing at the very peak, possess power in their hands that is enough to move mountains, fill seas, and destroy stars!

Ye Xuan paced back and forth inside the barrier, his voice growing heavier and heavier.

Love is selfish! Let alone this kind of pathological love that has been forcefully solidified to the extreme by the Eternal Conquest! How could a woman who loves me to the point of madness, whose feelings are locked at their absolute peak, possibly allow another woman to appear by my side?

He suddenly stopped in his tracks, turned around, and looked at Ying'er, his eyes cold and despairing. Loving one person can be hidden, but if you love two or three people, it cannot be hidden from these yandere women with heaven-reaching cultivation bases!

Once they are allowed to meet each other, it will be the ultimate Shura field.

I really don't know what to do next...

Ye Xuan tilted his head back, gazing at the endless dark night sky beyond the barrier. Uncontrollably, several peerlessly beautiful yet cold and ruthless figures surfaced in his mind.

"Xia Lengyue, Zi Yao, Wu Lingxiao, as well as Ye Qingcheng, Chu Jinghong. Bai Qiangu."

When Ye Xuan uttered these names, he felt a chill run down his spine.

Extremely frustrated, he sneered coldly over and over. "I know that these women are at their core selfish and despicable. They once betrayed me without hesitation for the sake of profit. But now, because of the backlash from the Eternal Conquest, right after betraying me, their feelings were permanently solidified during a momentary emotional fluctuation..."

"Now, not only do they love me to the point of madness, but they absolutely will not give up on me. It is impossible for them to stop loving me!"

Ye Xuan closed his eyes. He could almost see a world-ending catastrophe sweeping across the Three Thousand Dao States.

Several female emperors who controlled the strongest orthodoxies of the heavens and had already fallen into a morbid, obsessive madness were frantically searching for his whereabouts in the outside world just to fight over him.

His eyes were filled with pain and bewilderment as he muttered softly to himself:

"Why do I... possess such a terrifying talent?"